People of all income levels, news sources, insurers, and providers have expressed frustration over rising health premiums and deductibles going into 2016.
HHS issued guidance to clarify the requirement that insurers cover at least one form of each of the 18 FDA approved contraception (birth control) methods.
An allowed amount is the maximum amount an insurer will pay for a covered health service, the remainder owed by the insured is called “balance billing”. Allowed Amount Versus No Dollar Limits No lifetime or annual dollar limits means there is no limit to what an insurer will spend on all care as a whole,… Read More
It’s estimated there are between 20,000 and 45,000 deaths a year due to lack of health insurance. Get the facts on mortality and health insurance in the US by reading our breakdown of past studies and reports below. The Uninsured and Mortality Rates A 2012 familiesUSA study shows that more than 130,000 Americans died between 2005… Read More
Get the facts on vaccines. Should we vaccinate our children, should I get the flu shot, what are the risks, pros, cons, and myths? We uncover the truth. FACT: The flu vaccination and other vaccinations are covered at no out-of-pocket cost on all major medical plans under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). That means if you… Read More
Covered benefits are the items your plan covers with cost sharing in it’s network. Uncovered benefits, or covered benefits out-of-network cost more. ObamaCare’s Essential Benefits vs. Covered Benefits Under the ACA all major medical plans must offer at least one covered service from ten categories of essential health benefits. That makes all essential benefits covered… Read More
ObamaCare’s Platinum Plan is a type of Metal Plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Platinum Plans qualify for Tax Credits and have the highest premiums. Other Metal Plans include Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Also, a Catastrophic Plan is available to young adults and to some people with hardship exemptions. Platinum plans have the highest premiums and the lowest cost-sharing. They only make… Read More
ObamaCare’s Gold Plan is a type of Metal Plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Gold Plans qualify for Tax Credits, have high premiums, and generous cost-sharing. Other Metal Plans include Bronze, Silver, and Platinum. Also, a Catastrophic Plan is available to young adults and to some people with hardship exemptions. Gold plans mean higher premiums, less Tax Credits, but much… Read More
ObamaCare’s Bronze Plan is a type of Metal Plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Bronze Plans qualify for Tax Credits and have low premiums. Other Metal Plans include Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Also a Catastrophic Plan is available to young adults and to some people with hardship exemptions. All plans offer basic benefits and minimum cost-sharing, Bronze Plans tend… Read More
ObamaCare’s Silver Plan is a type of Metal Plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Silver Plans qualify for both Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing subsidies. Other Metal Plans include Bronze, Gold, and Platinum. Also, a Catastrophic Plan is available to young adults and to some people with hardship exemptions. HealthCare.Gov, or your state’s Marketplace in states that don’t… Read More
Here is a quick list of tips for getting the best health plan. No matter how you shop, this list will ensure you don’t over or under-buy health insurance. NOTE: Finding the best health plan for you and your family depends on your family size, income, needs, region, and more. The best plan for one… Read More
Having Health Insurance means you are covered in an emergency. Not getting coverage could result in big fees for those who wait until taxes are due. Obtaining and maintaining health insurance isn’t just about avoiding a fee, it’s about taking responsibility for your health, knowing you have coverage when you need it, and avoiding the devastating… Read More
Let’s take a look at factors that affect health insurance costs for premiums and cost sharing under ObamaCare, including Marketplace subsidies and Medicaid. ObamaCare helps ensure fair health insurance premiums (Sec. 2701), helps curb premium growth, and provides Tax Credits to lower premium costs. The ACA also includes measures to reduce out-of-pocket spending and curb national… Read More
Out-of-Pocket Maximums Under the Affordable Care Act The ACA limits out-of-pocket maximums, the max amount of costs for covered services you’ll pay out-of-pocket in a policy period on your health plan. For 2023, your out-of-pocket maximum can be no more than $9,100 for an individual plan and $18,200 for a family plan before marketplace subsidies…. Read More
Learn how to compare health plans to get the best deals on health insurance and health care. Compare your health needs with your plans costs and coverage, to find an affordable plan with benefits that are designed to cover you. No matter how you shop, and boy are there a lot of different options under… Read More
Everything You Need To Know About Short Term Health Insurance Under the Affordable Care Act Short term health insurance is meant to provide temporary health coverage. Short term plans don’t have to offer all of ObamaCare’s benefits and protections. Pros and Cons of Short Term Health Insurance The pros and cons of short term health… Read More
Guide to Buying Health Insurance: How Health Insurance Works Our guide to buying health insurance walks you through how health insurance works and how to buy health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare). Below we take a look at how ObamaCare affects buying health care plans, different ways to buy health insurance under… Read More
Learn About Your State’s Health Insurance Exchange Marketplace ObamaCare’s state Health Insurance Exchanges are open for business. Find your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace and apply for health coverage now. Use the comprehensive list of state-based marketplaces (also called exchanges) found below to find your state’s exchange or to find out if your state uses the… Read More
Short Term Coverage Vs. Major Medical Coverage Short term and major medical insurance plans both provide coverage in case of a medical catastrophe, but they have significant differences. Short-term plans are typically used to fill in the gaps between major medical coverage. They act as a temporary coverage and often offer lower premiums for less… Read More
Is Trump Sabotaging the ACA? (Opinion) Since his election, the Trump administration worked to repeal and replace the ACA. We discuss what has been accomplished and ask “has the Trump administration sabotaged the ACA?” Keep in mind this is an article that entertains opinion and takes the standpoint of examining a critic’s take on the… Read More
Some defenders of the AHCA (the American Health Care Act) say “what good is health insurance you can’t use due to cost?” We address this question.
We present a summary of each provision in the 21st Century Cures Act which aims to tackle mental health, addiction issues including the opioid crisis, and more.
Under ObamaCare the best plan is generally a Silver plan with an HSA, for low income it’s Medicaid / CHIP, and for Seniors at least Medicare A & B. There is a bit more to it, but if we only had one sentence to convey a blanket answer that would be it. If we get one… Read More
Preventive screening, including mammograms, is covered at not cost under ObamaCare but additional exams may have cost sharing or may not be covered.
The Affordable Care Act covers screening and counseling for domestic and interpersonal violence as a free preventive service for women.